Semi-automatic gun.



Na. 649,393 Patented May 8, I900.

' L. v. BENET & H. A. MERCIE. I

SEMI-AUTOMATIC GUN.

[Application filed Jan. 15, 1900.) s Sheets-She0t No. 649,393. IPatented Mav 8. 5900 L. v. BENET & H. A. MERCIE.

SEW-AUTOMATIC GUN.

(Application filed Jan. 15, 1900.) (N0 MOdPL) 6 Sheets$heet 2.

No. 649,393. ,Patentefi May 8, i900 L. V. BENET & H. A. MERCIE.

SEMI-AUTOMATIC sum.

(Application filed Jan. 15, 1900.)

6 SheetsSheet 3,

(No Model.)

No. 649,393. atented May 8, I900.

P L. v. BENET & H. A. mEacl. SEMI-AUTOMATlC sum.

(Application filed Jan 1 1900.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

3440214 few No. 649,393. Patented May 8, I900.

L. V. BENET &. H. A. MERCIE.

SEMI-AUTOMATIC GUN.

(Application filed Jan. 15, 1900.) (H0 Model-3 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

wiftwwoao wwMq No. 649,393. I Patented May 8, I900. L. v. BENET & H. A.MERcI.

SEMI-AUTOMATIC GUN.

(Application filed Jan. 15, 1900.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

FIG. 13

4 162 m m i WW2?! Shrew M 0.

Nrinn STATES lz' ncrnirr LAURENCE V. BENET AND lIENRl A. MERCIE, OFPARIS, FRANCE.

SEMl-AUTOMATIC cure.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. senses, dated May s,1900. Application filed January 15, 1900, Serlel No. 1,513. (lie model.)

Lb ri-ZZ whom it may concern: 7 Be it known that we, LAURENCE Bnnnr, a.citizen of the United States, and HENRI A. MERCIE, a, citizen of theFrench Republic, bothresiding at Paris, France, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Semi- Automatic Guns; and we do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itapperteins to mnlze and use the same.

Our invention relates to that class of guns employing fixed metallicammunition, and more particularly to that class of guns wherein thebreech mechanism is operated by means of e. rotating or swinginghandlever, and especielly to guns mounted on one of the forms of theso'called automatic recoil-mounts.

Theobject of oufinventi'on is to provide means by which the breech isautomatically opened. upon the discharge ofthe piece, with consequentextraction and ejection of the empty cartridge-case; means-forautomaticel y locking the breech in the open position; means forautomatically unlocking the breech upbn the introduction of a freshcertridge, and means for automatically closing the breech when unlocked.

A secondary object ofour invent-ion is to provide a mechanism performingthe above; stated functions which may be applied coexisting guns withoutessential modification of the breech mechanism and which will, withvinreasonable limits, be independent of the amount of recoil realized byeach round fired and o'f-'the precision with which the gun returns tothe in-bnttery or firing position.

In the accompanying d'rawings,-which illustrate our invent-iomit isshown as applied to the well-known lIotchkiss quick-firing gun mountedon the well-known Fletcher recoilmount.

In the following description ihe' mechanism of gun and mount will bedescribed and referred to only in so far as it may relate to andcooperate with our invention.

The same parts are indicated by the same letters throughout the severalviews.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the gun in the firingpositionthat is, with the I breech-block closed and locked. Fig. 2 is aplan View of the device shown in Fig.1. Fig.

mount 0.

3 is a. side elevation of the gun and mount, showing the gun in theposition it assumes after it has partly completed the countermecoil, butbefore the breech-blockhas been even partly unlocked. Fig. 4 shows a gunjust before it has completed the counterwecoil, parts being shown insection. Fig. 5'

breech, with the breech-block indicated in dotted lines, and shows theextractor in its gui'deways and in the position it assumes when thebreech is closed. Fig. 10 is a sec tion along the line 10 ll) of Fig. 9and looking down. Fig. 11 represents a similar sec 1 tion to that shownin Fig. 9, except that the extractor is in the position it assumes whenthe breech-block is lowered to the loading position, at which time theextractor holds the block against up ward motion. The block is indicatedin dotted lines in this figure. Fig. 12 represents a section along theline 1212 of Fig. 11 looking down. Fig. 13 is so. enlarged detail viewshowing the extractor Fig. Qre'presents a central verticel sect-ion"through the gun removed from its guideways. Fig. 14. more sents asection along the line It 14 of Fig. 12-3 and looking down. Fig. 15represents a section along the line 15 15 of Figi 14 and loolo ing tothe right. i '5 v A represents the guu-body,pvhich is mount ed in thesleeve A, which slides in the cradle B, supported by the trnnnions B onthe To this sleieveA' the recoil-cylinderA is rigidly attached, and thepiston-rod B of this recoil-cylinderis securedv lo the yoke B attheforward end or the cradle beneath the gun, as is well irnov'vn in.the Fletcher mount referred to. The interior of the cylinder is providedwith e irecoii-spring under suilici'ent compression ti) restore the gunto the initiator firing position after recoil, and

the shock of the recoil mnyhe taken up by .up. .of the hell-crank leverwill slide along the "g r one by fluid contained in the cylinder A butthe details of rier an d of the spring con rained clock. D is providedwith rertical grooi engage the ri he 0. in the housing in rear of thebore of the gun. On one side of the block a on groov to re eive the wrisf iin at the end i gun-h This rock-shaft is rotated 'tiiron ts angleeither the handthe automatic mecha ism con-n e e arm E, as will hehereinaf- The opposite side of the hlocir. D prm illfiii with the usualslot (Z 110 enthe stop L -n a", which limits the vertical travel of theblock, and also with an extlfi.CiOl-gl-XQ d" with cam-faces (l and d"and the flattened shoulder (1 whose engagement with the extractor willhe hereinafter doscribed. I

'i'hehrecclrhlock may he raised or lowered by hand in the usual mannerwell known in the art and needs no further description ex cept inconnection with the automatic gear.

The automatic mechanism in its various positions is shown in Figs. 1 to6 of the draw- 7c normally engaging a'hook A", attached to the sleeve A.The forward end of the sliding bar F projects into the guideslccve H,which is pivoted on the pin 71, these pins .1)". and b being mounted ina frame or on a bracket Bhsecured to the cradle B. 'lhe'upper portion ofthe guide-sleeve H is slotted, as at 71', to permit the passagetherethro'ugh of the arm ]l; of the bell-crank lever K.

Omitting for the present the operation of the extractor and assuming theparts to be in the initial position, (indicated in Figs. 1 and 2,)suppose the gun to he fired. The recoil of the gun will drag the slidingbar F rearward, causing the. hook fthereon to stretch out the spring G,and the tendency of this spring will be to hold the rock'shaft E in theinitial position and to hold the breech-block As thishar F slidesrearward the arm 7;

top of-this. "oar until the curved endf' of the bar passeshen'eath theouter end ofthis arm 70, at which time the spring (Zjwill cause this armis to snap down in front of this curved face f, the parts then being inthe position indicated in Fig, 3;, Further rotation of 'lhe' 1 oz 1 irorided for by a separate toe [3, which finds l a hear gun now maytravel farther rearward without affecting the position of the parts inany war;

(I, on either side therein, to but soon as the recoil has been coinletoii' i motion of the sliding rod F bei g arrested. it

belln lever K about its pivot may he an rested ei thcr .y the 'm kstriking the bottom. he guide-sleeve ill; but preferablythis 18 1 on.the face 0' in the frame The and the gin.

moves forward again cox, cc-oil to the diot: shown in Fig. 3 the 1g liarwill strike the a "Fire gun. continuesnioving forward under the energyof the coun tor-recoil; out the forwar on the "ill. the trm E", securedto the reels shait E, which is jonrnaled atone side oi the forces thearm Ehackwerd, tin g Li shaft ii and moving the biCQCiI-iJlOCldo n wardto the open position. Before t. i ward motion of the gun on counter-leerbeen completed the hook A strikes t per arinfld'ot the. hellcrank lever,in the arm Finoward and releasing the engagement between this arm 7.:and the curved face f, as indicated in Fig. 4, until finally the partsofthe automatic attachment assume the position indicated in Fig. 5, andif the block were not held down by some means it would be moved by thespring G- and parts connecting the same to the rock-shaft to the upperorclcsed position. It therefore becomes necessary to provide means forautomatically holding the block in the lower or open position and forautomatically releasing the same, and this we accomplish by means of theextractor mechauism, which will now he described.

At one side of the breech-housing we provide a guideway u, for theextractor M, which guidewzr; has overhanging lips c engaging theguide-ribs m on either edge of the extractor, as shown in Figs. 1 l and15. The extractor is provided with the claw M, having a nil) m adaptedto engage in front of the flange of the carlridgerase; The face of theextractor next-the breech-block is provided with a cam-lug M havingcanrfaces m." and m and an engaging shoulder m. This camlug M" engagesin the extractor-groove d in I der' to permit this, the guide-ribs m7 donot fit snugly beneath the guide-lips (1 but there is some littlehorizontal play atllowed. Onthis humped [ace of the extractor the springN is secured, preferably in the manner shown in Figs; 14 and 15, wherethe ribs n of the spring slide under overhanging lips until the springis pushed home, when a boss it engages in rear of a projection in, andthus the spring ishei'd in place, but at the same time it may be readilyassembled or detached when desired. .The

forward end of this spring N is rounded outto cause the catch in topress outward.

Suppose the extractor to be in the position shown in Fig. 9 and engagingin the extractorgroove shown in dotted lines in that figure, thebreechblock (indicated in dotted lines) being in the upper or closedposition. Now if the breech-block be lowered to the lower or open.posit-ion the cam-face m on the lug Iii. will engage the cam-surface (Zon the breechbloek, 'camming the extractor to the rear until finally theshoulder m is forced rearward in a position above the stop-shoulder d onthe block. .As the extractor is forced rearward the spring N will tendto throw the catch m outward until when this catch passes in rear ofthe'face of the breech of the gun the said catch will spring over saidface, locking the extractor against forward motion. After thebreech-block has reached its lowest position the action of the automaticgear will lift it slightly, when the shoulder or on the lug M willengage the stop-shoulder (Z on the block and the block will be held downin the open position.

. In order to release the'bloclr, it will be necessary to move theextractor forward again.

and this may be eitherdone by hand or may be done automatically in theact or" reloading the gun. To do this byhand, it is sufiicient to merelypress inward on the rear end of the extractor and then shove theextractor forward until the cam-face 'm on the cam-lu g M? engages thecam-surface d on the block, when the automatic mechanism will cause theblock in its upward motion to cam the extractor forward and theautomatic mechanism will close the breech. The same result isautomatically accomplished in reloading when the rim of the cartridgecase strikes the claw of' the extractor, pivoting the same outward aboutits hump m and releasing the catch m, and the extractor is draggedforward until the cam- :face m engages the cam-surface (Z as beforedescribed. Thus it will be seen that when the gun is fired the breechwill remain closeduutil the gun has moved forward somewhat on Ycounter-recoil.

Then the breeclrblock will be lowered automatically, the extractor willbeicammed automatically rearward until it looks the breech-block in thelowered position, and it will remain in this position, holding thebreech-block open until released either by hand or automatically inreloading the gun. As soon as the breech-block is released the automaticattachment will restore the parts to the initial or firing position.

It will be evident that if the pin 6 be taken out or the spring G bedisengaged from the hook f thebreech mechanism may be operated by handin the usual way? It will also be obvious that the herein-describedsemi-automatic attachment may be applied to operate the breechmechanisms of various types of guns already built without any expensivealterations and that other means for holding the breech-block in thelowered or open position may be provided, if desired, than the slidingextractor constructed as we have described it. Furthermore, it will beobvious that the sliding extractor as herein described may be used withother well-known types of semi-automatic gear.

/Vhile we have described our invention as applied to the Hotchkiss gunon a Fletcher mount, it will be obvious that the invention is applicableto almost any of the well-known forms of recoil-mount now in use, and Wedo notintend to confine our invention to any particular type of mount,but intend to use the same on any mounts to which it may be applicable.In a similar way we have shown the invention applied to the well-knownHotchkiss single-fire cannon; but with or? without minor changes theapparatus may be applied to many of the well-known types of rapid-fireguns in which the operation of opening and closing the breech isperformed by reverse motions of a hand-lever or rock-shaft. We thereforedo not intend to limit on rinventionto any particular type of rapid-firegnu.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United-States, is-

1. In a rapid-fire gun, the combination with a breech-block andautomatic mechanism for moving this block into and out of the closedposition, the said block having a cam-groove therein of a slidingextractor rounded on the face opposite the claw and provided with acatch on said rounded face to engage the gunbody, and engage thebreech-block, substantially as described.

2. In a rapid-fire gun, the combination with a' vertically-movablebreech-block and automatic mechanism formoving this block into and outof the closed position, the said block having. a cam-groove therein, ofa longitudinally-sliding extractor rounded on the face opposite the clawand provided with a catch on said you ndcd face to engage the gun-body,and a cam-lug to engage the breech-block, substantiallyas described.

3. A sliding extractor for use in automatic guns, comprising a baradapted to engage the brccclrblock, with a cla-w on one side of saidbar, a catch and a rounded face on the opposite side of said bar, and aspring adapted to press the claw of the extractor in toward the axis ofthe bore of the gun, substantially as described.

st; A sliding extractor for use in automatic guns, comprising a bar witha cam-lug and a claw on one side of said bar, a catch and a rounded faceon the opposite side of said bar, and a spring adapted to press the clawof the extractor in toward the axis of the bore of the gun,substantially as described.

i A slid' xtraetoriornso' antomaic guns, comp lsing a l." claw on oneside gage the gumbo the 'Siiik} d, at

'i bed. 1 extractor t gu: icon g a bar 2 '1 I New on o biiif: at sai v 1l I. i. a e the gu r-body, a: i den lace on side 0 the opp no bar, and aspring, secured to extracto and-- to press the claw oi] the or i.

the axis of the as described.

In a brecch-ioadi the combination with a movable hrii.JciriiloclQ'otslidbore of the un, substantiady gun,

ing extractor curved to rock on an axis trans verse to its line oi?mot-ion and engaging the said breeclriglock and the gun, and means formoving said breech block, substantially as described.

10. In a breech-loading gun, the combina tion with a slidingbreech-block, of a sliding extractor curved to rock on an axistransverse to its line of motion and engaging the said breech-block andthe gun, means for releasing said extractor and automatic means formoving said breech-block, substantially as described. 7

1|. An automatic gear for recoil-mounts for breech-loading gunscomprising a rockshaft for operating the breech-block, an arm secured tosaid rock-shaft, a sliding bar pivoted to said arm, a spring connectedto said sliding bar and to a non-recoiling part of said mount, and meanscontrolled by said spring for arresting the motion of said sliding baron counter-recoil, substantially as described.

, 12. An automatic gear for recoilnnountsfor breech-loading gunscomprising a rock-shaft for operating the breech-block, an arm securedto said rock-shat t, a slidingbar pivoted to said arm, a lever pivotedto a non-recoiling part of said mount and having an arm engaging saidsliding bar on counter-recoil, and a spring connecting said lever andsaid sliding bar, substantially as described.

An automatic for recoil-mounts for amin and a and the other armengag'ngsaid slicing car i on counter-recoil, andv spring connectingsaid lever and said sliding bar, substantially as described.

11. in a breecirloading gnu, t tion with a breech-block and tomatlcallyoperated said bloc draw the empty cartridge-case z the sai clock in theopen po l .on, of arociz shaft for operating, the brceclrblociz, an armsecured to said rock-shaft, a sliding oted to said arm, a' springconnected to said sliding bar and to a non-recoding part of said mount,and means controlled bysaid spring counterrecoil, substantially asdescribed.

15. in. a breech-loading gun, the combination with a breech-block and anextractor automatically operated. by said lock to withdraw the emptycartridge-case and to lock the said block in the open position, of arocic shaft for operating the breech-block, an arm secured to saidrock-shaft, a sliding bar pivoted to said arm, a bell-crank leverpivoted to a non-recoiling part of said mount and having an arm engagingsaid sliding bar on counter-recoil, a hook on the gen engaging theopposite arm of said bell-crank lever, and a spring connecting saidlever and said. sliding bar, substantially as described.

16. An automatic gear for recoil-mounts for breech-loading gunscomprising a rock-shaft for operating the breech-block, an arm securedto said rock-shaft, a sliding bar pivoted to said arm; a springconnected to said sliding bar and to a non-re'coiling part of saidmount, and means controlled by said spring for arresting the motion. ofsaid sliding bar on counter-- recoil, and for automatically releasingthe same, substantially as described.

17. An autom atic gear fo.r recoil-mounts for breech-loading gunscomprising a rock-shaft for operating the breech-block, an arm securedto said rockshaft, a sliding bar pivoted to said arm, a lever pivotedtca non-recoiling part of said mount and having an arm ongaging saidsliding bar on counter-recoil, and automatically releasing same, and, aspring connecting said lever and said sliding bar, substantially asdescribed.

18. In a breech-loading gun, the combina tion with a breech-block and anextractor automatically operated by said block [10 withdraw the emptycartridge-case and to lock the said block in the open position, of arock shaft for operating the breech-block, an arm secured to saidrQckshaft, a sliding oar pivoted to said arm, a spring connected to saidsliding bar and to a nonn'ecoiling part ofsaid mount, and meanscontrolled by said spring for arresting the motion of said slid ingbaron for arresting the motion of said sliding'bar oncounter-recoil, andfor automatically releassaid bar, a lever .part of said mount and havingan arm passing said bar, substantially as described.

19. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with a breech-block and anextractorautomatically operated by said block to withdraw the emptycartridgecase and to lock the said block in the open position, of arockshaft for operating the breech-block, an arm secured to saidrock-shaft, a sliding bar pivoted to said arm, a lever pivoted toanon-recoiling part of said mount and having an arm engaging saidsliding bar on counter-recoil, a spring connecting said lever and saidsliding bar, and means for automatically disengaging said lever fromsaid bar, substantially as described,

20. An automatic gear for recoihmounts for breech-loading gunscomprising a rock-shaft for operating the breech-block, an arm securedto said rock-shaft, a sliding bar pivotedt to said arm, a pivotedguide-sleeve for said" bar, a spring connected tosaid sliding bar and toa non-recoiling part of said mount, and means controlled by said springfor arresting the motion of said sliding bar on counter-recoil,substantially as described.

21. An automatic gear for recoil-mounts for breech-loading gunscomprising a rock-shaft for operating the breech-block, an armsecured tosaid rock-shaft, a sliding bar pivoted to said arm, a slotted pivotedguide-sleeve for pivoted to a non-recoiling ing through ihe slot in saidsleeve and engaging said sliding bar on counter-recoil, and a springconnecting said lever and said sliding bar, substantially as described.

22. An automatic gear for recoil-mounts for breech-loading gunscomprising a rock-shaft for operating the breech-block, an arm securedto said rock-shaft, a sliding bar pivoted to said arm, a slotted pivotedguide-sleeve for said bar, a hook on the gun, a bell-crank lever pivotedto a non-recoiling part of the mount and having one arm passing throughsaid slot and engaging said hook and the other arm engaging saidslidin'g\bar on counter-recoil, and a spring connecting said lever bar,substantially as described.

23. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with a breech-block and anextractor automatically operated by said block to withdraw the emptycartridge-case and to lock the said block in the open position, of arockshaft for operating the breeclrblock, an arm secured to saidrock-shaft, a sliding bar pivoted to said arm, a pivoted guide-sleevefor said bar, a spring connected to said sliding bar and to anon-recoilin g part of said mount,

and means controlled by said spring for anresting the motion of saidsliding bar on counter-recoil, substantially as described.

24. In a breech-loading gun,,-the combination with a breech-block and anextractor au tomatically operated by said block to withdraw the emptycartridge-case and to lock the said-block in the open position, of arock shaft for operating the breech-block, an arm secured; to said. rockshaft, a sliding bar pivoted to said arm, a slotted'pivoted guidesleevefor said bar, a lever pivoted to a nonrecoilingpart of said mount andhaving an arm passing through said slot and engaging said sliding bar oncounter-recoil, and a spring connecting said lever and said sliding bar,substantially as described.

25. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with a vertically-movableblock and a sliding extractor automatically operated by said block towithdraw the empty cartridge case and to lock the said block in the openposition, of a rock-shaft for operating the breech-block, an arm securedto said rockshaft, a sliding bar pivoted to said arm, a lever pivoted'toa non-recoiling part of said mountand having an arm engaging saidsliding bar on counter-recoil, and a spring connecting said lever andsaid sliding bar, substantially as described.

26. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with a sliding breech-blockand a transversely-sliding extractor automatically operated by saidblock to withdraw the empty cartridge-case and to lock the said block inthe open position, of a rock-shaft for operating the breech-block, anarm secured to said rock-shaft, a sliding bar pivoted to said arm, aguide-sleeve for said sliding bar, a lover pivoted to a non-recoilingpart of said mount and having an arm engaging said sliding bar oncounter-recoil, and a spring connecting said lever and said sliding bar,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of witnesses.

LAURENCE V. BENET.

- HENRI "A. MEnoIn- Witnesses as to signature of L. V. Bent:

J. STEPHEN GIUSTA, GUsTAvE R. 'lnoMrson.

Witnesses as to signature of H. A. Mcrei:

TH. F-AVARGE, CHARLES KURER.

